June 2016 • FREE
Carousel Ground Breaking
An artist’s rendition of the new Historic Carousel and Museum building set for completion summer of 2017.
by Rick Rogers
It’s All About Dad
We all know that Father’s Day falls in the month of June. Sometimes it can be hard to decide what to do. Each dad is different in their likes and dislikes, however, there is always someplace you can go with or something you can do for dad. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have many options available that others don’t, like a day at the beach, camping at the lake, or hiking in the mountains. What are some ideas for staying closer to home with dad? I’m so glad you asked. Inside activities or outdoor? Let’s start with inside. Did you know that there is a black light mini-golf course right in downtown Albany? It’s downstairs at G2 Fun Zone and Bounce House. Perfect for those wet early summer days or while you are waiting for a table to open up at Novak’s Hungarian Restaurant. Don’t enjoy putt putt golf? How about dinner and a movie at The Pix Theater? This small theater is cozy and cool, offering dinner from Sybaris or just an afternoon of fun. The options are many and Dad will love it! For more information and show times, visit their website albanypix.com. For those that prefer the out of doors, you could take Dad fishing, hiking, or camping. There are wonderful sites all over the Mid Willamette Valley.
Make sure to ask about discounts if you decide to stay in a camp ground close to home. What about day trips, you ask? Stop by Albany Visitor’s Association; you can pick up driving directions for Linn County’s Covered Bridge tour. Maybe you just want to buy Dad a fun gift instead. Does he like reading? Check out Browser’s Bookstore in Corvallis and Albany. Maybe Dad needs a new propane BBQ or just a fill up on the propane tank; check out Co-Energy Propane in Albany. New recliner for Dad? Look no further that Rife’s Home Furniture. If you don’t have a Dad to celebrate with, you might visit one of the many assisted living centers or the Veterans Home in Lebanon and just give a little time to someone else’s Dad that may not have their children in the area. So we encourage you to think outside of the “box,” the gift box that is, this year. Come up with an experience Dad will remember always! The great thing about experiences are the memories. They are much longer lasting than anything that will be found wrapped in a box. Don’t forget to take your camera along, and make sure you have fun too! Happy Father’s Day!
A major transformation is about to take place in downtown Albany. For decades a building has sat on the corner of First Avenue and Washington Street. It survived though the years as a poultry processing plant, a feed and seed store, a craft supply business, and, over the past several years as a home of the Historic Carousel and Museum. In its last incarnation it housed the carving and painting studio for a downtown project that got its start on a $500 donation and grew to also house a great carousel museum of antique animals, paintings, and other memorabilia as well as a gift shop. Over the past few years the project has drawn thousands of visitors into downtown Albany each month. It all started in 2002 when downtown coffee shop operator Wendy Kirby visited Missoula, Montana, and saw a wonderful carousel built by volunteers in that city. She brought that dream back to Albany and the ball soon got rolling. Volunteers turned out to start carving and painting animals of all shapes and sizes being adopted by local families and individuals making cash donations to the project. A few years later the old poultry plant building would be purchased with the help of a local lawyer and downtown supporter who provided bridgemoney to make the purchase while a grant from the city’s Central Albany Revitalization Area came through. The famous Dentzel carousel family donated a mechanism to operate the carousel that had once turned a Dentzel carousel in New Jersey. A team of mechanics worked hard to get the old mechanism restored and operational. Thanks to the work of hundreds of volunteer workers over the years, as well as millions of dollars in donations and other merchandise support, The historic carousel and museum in downtown Albany is about to become a reality. The carving and painting studio along with the gift shop has now been moved to Two Rivers Market on Second Avenue in downtown Albany while the new building is constructed. Ground breaking is scheduled for June with completion of the new structure scheduled for completion in the summer of 2017. For those of you running into Wendy Kirby these days, you will notice a big smile on her face. Her 2002 dream on the way back from a trip to Montana is about to become a world-class attraction for Albany, where the project has turned out to be more than just a carousel, it is a real work of art. Absolutely wonderful!